Difference between revisions of "Opening the near and revealing the distant"
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Discarding the assumption that [[Shakyamuni]] attained [[Enlightenment]] for the first [[time]] in [[India]] and revealing that he originally gained [[Enlightenment]] in the immensely distant {{Wiki|past}}. In The [[Profound Meaning]] of the [[Lotus Sutra]], [[T'ient'ai]] (538-597) of [[China]] defines the [[principal]] [[Doctrine]] of the [[theoretical teaching]] (first half) of the [[Lotus Sutra]] to be the "replacement of the [[Three Vehicles]] with the one [[vehicle]]," and that of the [[essential]] [[teaching]] (latter half) of the [[Sutra]] to be "opening the near and revealing the distant." This term describes a [[revelation]] made in the [[essential]] [[teaching]] of the [[Lotus Sutra]]. At the beginning of the "[[Emerging from the Earth]]" (fifteenth) chapter, countless [[Bodhisattvas]] rise up from beneath the [[earth]]. The [[Bodhisattvas]] already {{Wiki|present}} in the assembly are surprised by the sudden [[appearance]] of this great multitude. On behalf of the others, [[Bodhisattva]] [[Maitreya]] asks [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] to explain the [[Wikipedia:Identity (social science)|identity]] of these newly arrived [[Bodhisattvas]]. In reply, [[Shakyamuni]] announces, "Ever since the long distant {{Wiki|past}} I have been [[teaching]] and converting this multitude." This [[revelation]] is called "opening the near and revealing the distant in concise [[Form]]." Hearing this statement, however, the assembled [[Bodhisattvas]] are dubious and perplexed, and [[Maitreya]] again asks [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] how he could have taught and trained so many [[Bodhisattvas]] in the scant forty-odd years since his [[Awakening]] under the [[Bodhi tree]]. | Discarding the assumption that [[Shakyamuni]] attained [[Enlightenment]] for the first [[time]] in [[India]] and revealing that he originally gained [[Enlightenment]] in the immensely distant {{Wiki|past}}. In The [[Profound Meaning]] of the [[Lotus Sutra]], [[T'ient'ai]] (538-597) of [[China]] defines the [[principal]] [[Doctrine]] of the [[theoretical teaching]] (first half) of the [[Lotus Sutra]] to be the "replacement of the [[Three Vehicles]] with the one [[vehicle]]," and that of the [[essential]] [[teaching]] (latter half) of the [[Sutra]] to be "opening the near and revealing the distant." This term describes a [[revelation]] made in the [[essential]] [[teaching]] of the [[Lotus Sutra]]. At the beginning of the "[[Emerging from the Earth]]" (fifteenth) chapter, countless [[Bodhisattvas]] rise up from beneath the [[earth]]. The [[Bodhisattvas]] already {{Wiki|present}} in the assembly are surprised by the sudden [[appearance]] of this great multitude. On behalf of the others, [[Bodhisattva]] [[Maitreya]] asks [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] to explain the [[Wikipedia:Identity (social science)|identity]] of these newly arrived [[Bodhisattvas]]. In reply, [[Shakyamuni]] announces, "Ever since the long distant {{Wiki|past}} I have been [[teaching]] and converting this multitude." This [[revelation]] is called "opening the near and revealing the distant in concise [[Form]]." Hearing this statement, however, the assembled [[Bodhisattvas]] are dubious and perplexed, and [[Maitreya]] again asks [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] how he could have taught and trained so many [[Bodhisattvas]] in the scant forty-odd years since his [[Awakening]] under the [[Bodhi tree]]. | ||
| − | This opens the way for The [[Buddha]]'s explicit [[revelation]] in the following (sixteenth) chapter, "[[Life Span]]," in which he says: "In all the [[worlds]] the [[heavenly]] and [[human beings]] and [[Asuras]] all believe that the {{Wiki|present}} [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], after leaving the palace of the [[Shakyas]], seated himself in the place of [[Meditation]] not far from the city of | + | This opens the way for The [[Buddha]]'s explicit [[revelation]] in the following (sixteenth) chapter, "[[Life Span]]," in which he says: "In all the [[worlds]] the [[heavenly]] and [[human beings]] and [[Asuras]] all believe that the {{Wiki|present}} [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], after leaving the palace of the [[Shakyas]], seated himself in the place of [[Meditation]] not far from the [[city of Gaya]] and there attained supreme perfect [[Enlightenment]]. But good men, it has been [[immeasurable]], [[boundless]] hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of [[nayutas]] of [[kalpas]] since I in fact attained [[Buddhahood]]." [[Shakyamuni]] then describes in some detail the immensity of the span of [[time]] since he actually attained [[Enlightenment]]. The [[name]] given to that [[time]] span—numberless major [[World]] system dust {{Wiki|particle}} [[kalpas]] —is an abbreviation of that description. This [[revelation]] in the "[[Life Span]]" chapter of The [[Buddha]]'s original [[attainment]] of [[Enlightenment]] in the remote {{Wiki|past}} is called "opening the near and revealing the distant in expanded [[Form]]." See also numberless major [[World]] system dust {{Wiki|particle}} [[kalpas]]. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:02, 13 February 2014
opening the near and revealing the distant
開近顕遠 (Jpn kaigon-ken-non )
Discarding the assumption that Shakyamuni attained Enlightenment for the first time in India and revealing that he originally gained Enlightenment in the immensely distant past. In The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra, T'ient'ai (538-597) of China defines the principal Doctrine of the theoretical teaching (first half) of the Lotus Sutra to be the "replacement of the Three Vehicles with the one vehicle," and that of the essential teaching (latter half) of the Sutra to be "opening the near and revealing the distant." This term describes a revelation made in the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra. At the beginning of the "Emerging from the Earth" (fifteenth) chapter, countless Bodhisattvas rise up from beneath the earth. The Bodhisattvas already present in the assembly are surprised by the sudden appearance of this great multitude. On behalf of the others, Bodhisattva Maitreya asks Shakyamuni Buddha to explain the identity of these newly arrived Bodhisattvas. In reply, Shakyamuni announces, "Ever since the long distant past I have been teaching and converting this multitude." This revelation is called "opening the near and revealing the distant in concise Form." Hearing this statement, however, the assembled Bodhisattvas are dubious and perplexed, and Maitreya again asks Shakyamuni Buddha how he could have taught and trained so many Bodhisattvas in the scant forty-odd years since his Awakening under the Bodhi tree.
This opens the way for The Buddha's explicit revelation in the following (sixteenth) chapter, "Life Span," in which he says: "In all the worlds the heavenly and human beings and Asuras all believe that the present Shakyamuni Buddha, after leaving the palace of the Shakyas, seated himself in the place of Meditation not far from the city of Gaya and there attained supreme perfect Enlightenment. But good men, it has been immeasurable, boundless hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood." Shakyamuni then describes in some detail the immensity of the span of time since he actually attained Enlightenment. The name given to that time span—numberless major World system dust particle kalpas —is an abbreviation of that description. This revelation in the "Life Span" chapter of The Buddha's original attainment of Enlightenment in the remote past is called "opening the near and revealing the distant in expanded Form." See also numberless major World system dust particle kalpas.
